The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is getting closer, and commuters across the Lower Hudson Valley and New York City metropolitan-area are preparing for a mass-influx of riders on public transit.
Multiple games will be held in the NYC-NJ metro area, with just two months left until kick off.
Here is what to know about the games in the region, and what subway stations could be most crowded during the summer.
Where is the Men’s World Cup happening in NYC and NJ?
The Men’s World Cup will host eight games at MetLife Stadium, which is being branded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
MetLife Stadium is in East Rutherford, New Jersey, right outside of the city. But over 1.2 million fans are expected to be in the area for the games, meaning New York City has to plan accordingly for the event, too.
FIFA World Cup is expected to bring $3.3 billion in economic activity throughout the region, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani even named a “World Cup czar” for his administration, which has been actively making preparations for the games.
What is the World Cup schedule for NY-NJ?
Here is when the World Cup games are happening in the region, according to the stadium. This period of time is likely when local transit riders can expect the most activity in the subway system.
What NYC train stations will be affected the most by the World Cup?
During the World Cup, parts of Penn Station will be closed for hours before matches in certain parts of the hub, according to reporting by NorthJersey.com. Some areas will be closed only to World Cup attendees for up to four hours before a game begins, the plan said.
With over 1.2 million fans coming to the region for the games, more riders can be expected in most MTA subway stations during the time period, particularly in Midtown.
“If you regularly use the subway, bus, Long Island Rail Road, or Metro-North to get around the city, you should expect changes to service for the duration of the World Cup, particularly on match days,” the MTA says on its website.
“It’s also very likely that your normal modes of transit will be more crowded than normal, as thousands of spectators are expected in the region for the matches.”
The transportation authority also said depending on the time and match schedule, “service between 34 Street and 59 Street from the FDR Drive to the West Side Highway may be subject to diversions, reroutes, skipped stops, or cancellations,” and that bus service will be likely face “significant changes” in Midtown.
Why is there so much drama surrounding transit during the World Cup?
As the region prepares, news of the transit system’s plan to handle the major number of riders has caused concern.
For match days, NJ Transit special tickets are set to cost $150 round-trip to get to and from the stadium, and parts of Penn Station are planned to be shut down, according to the plan. NJ TRANSIT even strongly recommended to commuters: don’t travel unless it’s essential on match days.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill said last week, as the major ticket price increase was revealed.
“I have also directed NJ TRANSIT to provide discounts for riders impacted by service changes on Monday, June 22nd and Tuesday, June 30th, the two dates that overlap with peak commuting hours. My Administration is also coordinating closely with PATH to cross-honor tickets and provide additional service to keep people moving during this busy time.”
NJ Transit is expected to be one of the main movers to the stadium. But for many commuters, the train is the primary way to get to the city every day.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: What Metro-North, NYC Subway riders need to know about the World Cup
Reporting by Amethyst Martinez, USA TODAY / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
